Begonia pavonina

24th September 2011

A strange and rare species from the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. It grows in deep shade
and in the right light conditions the leaves have a blue irridescence. In my experience,
in the UK, that means when illuminated by the flash from a camera. I am told that there is some variation
in the shade of blue and it is possible that bluer and more reliably coloured seedlings could be selected.
It has been relatively easy to grow although it has to spend the winter in the growing case. Unfortunately
it looks much better in a photograph that it does in life where it is duller than it's reputation.